Overture requests survey, resources for gay, lesbian,
Paula R. Kincaid,, January 14, 2000
An overture on developing resources for ministry to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons is being sent to the 212th General Assembly.
The Presbytery of San Francisco voted on Jan. 11 to approve an overture asking the General Assembly to direct the Congregational Ministries Division to survey PCUSA congregations to identify ministries of outreach and evangelism, specific congregational programs, and approaches of pastoral care all related to reaching gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, their family and friends. The survey would also identify lessons learned from successes and failures of such programs.
The overture asks that the survey responses be used to develop resources and tools to assist congregations in ministries of evangelism, programming and pastoral care and that the gay lesbian, bisexual and transgender members of the PCUSA be consulted in the development of the survey and the resources.
The final request of the overture is that the resources be distributed to all congregations, presbytery and synod resource centers and committees on ministry by Dec. 31, 2002.
“In many congregations and communities, outreach to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons is a crucial opportunity for evangelism,” states the rationale of the overture. “Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends, have the same pastoral care needs as other persons, as well as needs particular to their circumstances.”
The rationale continues, “In numbers of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) churches, there are faithful and effective programs addressing these particular situations, of which others are not aware. Sharing our stories and experiences with one another in the Church will help congregations and pastors as they seek to respond to emerging needs of this particular group of God’s people.”
The overture was brought before the presbytery by Westminster Hills Presbyterian Church, Hayward, California, a member church of More Light Presbyterians.